CVE-2026-113250 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Use after free in ANGLE in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.47 allowed a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as a use-after-free flaw within the ANGLE graphics library component of Google Chrome prior to version 156.0.8078.47 represents a critical memory safety issue that undermines the browser's sandboxing mechanisms. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. In this specific instance, the flaw resides in ANGLE, which is Google’s implementation of OpenGL ES for Chrome and Chromium-based browsers, serving as the bridge between web content rendering commands and the underlying graphics hardware drivers. When a crafted HTML page triggers the execution path involving improper memory management within ANGLE, it allows an attacker to manipulate heap metadata or execute arbitrary code by leveraging dangling pointers that still reference previously allocated but freed memory regions.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-416, which classifies use-after-free errors as high-risk defects due to their potential for remote code execution. The attack vector is classified as Remote via Network (ATT&CK T1189), indicating that an attacker can exploit this flaw without any prior access or authentication by simply directing a victim user to a maliciously crafted webpage. The presence of such a vulnerability in the graphics layer is particularly dangerous because it operates at a low level where memory corruption can lead to control flow hijacking, allowing the execution of arbitrary shellcode within the context of the browser process. Although Chrome employs multiple layers of defense including sandboxing, heap hardening, and address space layout randomization, sophisticated exploitation techniques such as heap spraying or specific object alignment attacks can bypass these mitigations if the underlying memory corruption is not addressed at its source.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, primarily because it enables a remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code inside the sandboxed browser environment. If successful, an exploit could allow the extraction of sensitive user data such as cookies, session tokens, and browsing history stored within the browser profile. Furthermore, depending on the specific exploitation technique employed, the attacker might achieve escape from the renderer process sandbox, thereby gaining access to higher-privilege processes or even the host operating system. This compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the user's digital identity and can serve as an initial vector for more complex multi-stage attacks including malware installation, keylogging, or lateral movement within a corporate network if the compromised machine is part of such an infrastructure.
To mitigate this risk, users must ensure that Google Chrome is updated to version 156.0.8078.47 or later immediately upon availability. This update contains patches for the memory management logic within ANGLE that prevent the use of freed pointers and enforce stricter bounds checking during graphics command processing. For enterprise environments, it is recommended to implement automated patch management systems to ensure rapid deployment across all endpoints. Additionally, security teams should monitor network traffic for indicators of compromise associated with known exploit kits targeting browser vulnerabilities and consider deploying content security policies or script blocking extensions that restrict the execution of untrusted JavaScript from unknown origins as a defense-in-depth measure while waiting for full patch propagation.